The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-12
ccnduerIne nllars.

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extraordinary men their failures, as
stepping stones to higher things. M.
Theirs began his career in military
school. founded by the first Napoleon
He there stimulated himself with the
idea that every French soldier carried
q marshals baton in his knapsack, and
that every road out OF Paris led to a
European capital. When the empire
came down with crash 1t put an end
to the military aspirations of the youth
full Theirs. Disappointed but not cast
down. he entered the law school Of
AK, where he soon disclosed his ambi-
ton and his consciousness Of superior
ity. Parties ran high in the law school,
and Theirs became leader on the
ultra liberal side. Once when the prac-
ticability Of liberal politics was disput-
ed he exolaimcd well, well. wait till
am minister!"
Though his personal qualities secur-
cd him admission to the most aristo-
cratic salons of AK, his democratic
opinions provoked many royalists to
say, HE writes well, but his thoughts
are evil"
Talleyrand once said to him: IF you
wish to rise, make enemies" Theirs
had acted on this advice, years before
1t was given, with such success that
the royalsts of AK tried to deprive
him of the fairly worn honors of his
pen. He competed for the annual prize
given by the Academy of AK, and his
essay would have won the prize had
its authorship been kept secret. But,
being found out, the majority of the
committee OF award, being royalists,
were unwilling to allow democrat to
triumph. Afraid to stultify themselves,
they postponed the award for a year,
during which the competition was to
ssmain open.
Theirs, instead of mopng over the
injustice, was only the more determin-
ed to win the prize. One day an essay
arrived from Paris. The committee APP
proved of it, and the royalist loudly
praised it, seeing therein the defeat OF
the young liberal. The sealed paper con-
tanning the name of the essayist was
opened. The Partisan was Theirs, who
had sent his essay to friend who had
simply copied it and forwarded it to
the state committee.
Children are impatient to pluck
fruit before it has ripened. A similar
impatence prompts young men, il
ambitious and brilliant, to grasp polit-
zeal responsibilities which they are not
able to bear.
The revolution Of 1910, which Theirs
as a journalist had stimulated, made
him secretary general of finance. under
Baron Lonis, an aged man, who subse-
guently resigned and recommended his
subordinate for the position OF minister
of finance. King Louis Philippe sent
for him. and the young man of thirty
three came into the royal presence.
'Are you ambitious, Monsieur
Thiersp" asked the king.
He was ambitious, but he was also
cautious. Knowing he had neither
position nor experience enough for the
post, he refused the portfolio in terms
which impress sed the king more favor
ably than his acceptance of it would
have done.
His first speech in the chamber of
deput es was failure.
Il have been beaten" he said. "but
not cast down. I am making my first
essay in arms. In the tribune. as
under fire. q defeat is as useful as
victory"
He tried again and succeeded. In
his first speech he had, following the
traditions of the tribune, attempted the
classical and formal style of oratory.
His diminutive figure and weak voice,
piping treble, untitled him for that
style. He adopted new method of
addressing the chambers. He talked
instead of declaiming; spoke with the
naturalness Of one conversing; told an
scdotes, used colloquialisms and ad-
dressed the deputies with frank famil-
iaritv.
The speech made a sensation, and
from that day M. Theirs was listened
to whenever he gave them one of his
light lively, brilliant talks. illustrated
by scraps OF history and bits OF anec-
dots. Men admired the clearness of
his expositions, and allowed themselves
to be ffoated where the limpid stream
might carry them.-E1